The Cultural Landscape of the Persian Qanat

The Persian qanat, an ancient underground water extraction system, has sustained arid landscapes and cultural development for over 3,000 years. This study highlights its role in shaping human settlement patterns, agrarian traditions, and social structures in regions like Bam, Yazd, and Khorasan. The qanat's design reflects advanced multidisciplinary knowledge, including hydrology, geotechnics, and community cooperation, while its maintenance demands ongoing adaptation to environmental changes. However, modern infrastructure is replacing traditional qanats, threatening their cultural significance. The research advocates for qanat tourism as a means to preserve this heritage while generating revenue, emphasizing its potential as both an economic and conservation strategy.

Vakil, N. (2022). The Cultural Landscape of the Persian Qanat. The Routledge Handbook of Cultural Landscape Heritage in the Asia-Pacific, 420–435. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003099994-31